Wow! Did I just screw up?
 

I just went for an oil change at a Valvoline oil change place. Two things I COMPLETELY forgot about:

The filter I have was only available at the dealer. They installed a Valvoline VO25 filter, which (according to the internet) is used for Mitsubishis.

I used 10w30 oil, instead of the dealer recommended 5w20 (I should have requested 5w30, as I've read some shady things about the 20).

Have I made a major mistake? A day later, and no oil leaking... everything looks good...

how did they use a V025 when your car requires a cannister filter?? That is WAY screwed up....take it back to them IMMEDIATLY and DEMAND that the correct parts be used. This is WAY bad news. I wouldn't even drive the car or start it up. Demand to have a tow truck pick up your car and take it to them.

I worked for Express for over a year and this sort of stuff will destroy an engine and they would much rather pay a tow truck to bring it in than buy you a new engine. This is horribly wrong. Do not delay.

Can't go wrong w/Express man...they do good work.

lucky for me i do tha oil change in the dealer.
i wouldn't like my engine to just blow. :nono:

Thats why I do it myself. Even when I ran a shop I would let those lossers touch my car.

I got my filter at the local NAPA dealer, it was expensive (8$) for only the paper element. As for the oil, I didn't believe it at first about the 5w20 and thought that 5w30 would do, but talking to a mechanic he told me the 5w20 is for the varialble valve system and that I should stick with it.

On another note the dealer told me to change the oil every 8000km, I did the first one at 5000km since the engine was new than I would afterward go every 8000km. But seing the size of the oil filter (small) and the amount of oil the engine took (only 4 liters) I am thinking that I would continue every 5000km.

Orange, I'm at 7800 kms, and I've already done 2 oil changes! May see a little neurotic, but hey, oil is the lifeblood of the car. It can't hurt to change your oil more frequently. I usually do it every 3-4 months.

Hitman, I don't see a problem changing the oil more frequently, actually it the best thing to do. But I thought it was weird that the dealer suggested every 8000km. But before km came into effect, people were changing their oil at every 5000 miles which is 8000km.

But all my cars I had (and will own) will always be changed at 5000 km, I can't bring myself to go higher also it easier to keep track on the odometer.

Willhardcore what is a VO25 filter? As for the 10w30, if it were me, I would change it to the 5w20. Half of me is saying no big deal but the other half is a bit worried. 10w30 is thicker than 5w20 so it could do some damage to your variable valve (how much I am not sure).

well i do mines every 3000 to 3500 miles, i think that should be good.

Hey Orange.

It depends on the car. I think most American cars recommend every 5000km/3months. Usually, Japanese cars are made to recommend every 6-8000kms/4months, I believe. I think it's mostly been that way for a while now. I never reach the mileage first, so I end of doing it every 3 or 4 months anyways.

However, that's still babying the car, but like you said, there's nothing wrong with that.

Also, for the first oil change I went to the dealer and her charged me $50 (including the bogus inspection)!! I thought the guy was smoking crack. From now on, I'm going to my usual mechanic in Montreal (I did it for my last oil change. If he notcies anything wrong, he said to me that he's give me a report so that I could take to the dealer, if the repair in question is covered under the warranty. There's no way any dealer would be more thorough than him.

Btw Orange, did you get any extended warranty and the rust proofing on the car? I got the rust proofing, but not the extended warranty (I may extend it when the initial 3 years are up).

I know this is off topic of the thread, but how does that lifetime rust-proofing thing work? You go every year for an inspection?

sorry cause you didn't ask me, but they will send you a letter in the mail saying, that your warranty is about to expire, and if you want to extend it, you have to call a number and they would give you the details.

No prob M3. Thanks for your response on the warranty question!

$8 is not an expensive filter. The last one I bought cost me $13. I wish I could find it at an auto parts store. I run Mobil 1 synthetic 0W-20 in my car. They don't make 5W-20, so I use 0W-20 and I just make sure my car is at normal operating temperature before bringing the rpm's above 3000. At first, I changed it about every 3750 mi (1/2 the recommended), but now I think I'll follow the manual and change it every 7500 mi.

It seems as though running 5W-30 could reduce your power and gas mileage because it is thicker. I consistently get 30 to 31 mpg (mostly freeway) with 0W-20 oil.

or if something contact your local dealer and ask them.